Pretzel making machine



p 1936. H. A. GERLAND 2,053,608

I PRETZEL MAKING MACHINE Filed May 15, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Snnentor(lttornegs.

Sept. 8, 1936.- H. A. GERLAND 2,053,608

. PRETZEL MAKING MACHINE Filed May 15, 1955 5 Sheets---Shet 2 1 Inventorzzv zaarza Gttotnegs.

p 3 H. A. GERLAND 2,053,608

PRETZEL MAKING MACHINE Filed May 15, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 p 8, 1936. H.A. GERLAND 2,053,608

PRETZEL MAKING MACHINE Filed May 15, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ZmnentorHarry 0?. Garland (Ittornegs.

Septw 8, 1936. H. A.- GERL.AND 9 5 PRETZEL MAKING MACHINE Filed May 15,1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 1Z4, v 124 731 d? erm Patented Sept. 8, 1936UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

{The present invention relates to an improved machin for tomat a y mak nre to the point where they are ready to be baked, the ob of h nv ntio eit ovi a 18+ tively simplemachine for operating upon a measured quantityof dough for rolling the same into a stri n h n sa in str t rou hvarious portions of the machine for looping it,

twisting it f olding it and pressing thesamge to final shapegandcarrying the formed' pretzels in a conveyor or the like for delivery tothe oven so that the pretzelsmay be fedinto the end or the side ofan-oven.

Another objector this invention is to provide a novel constructionofdough rollingmeans for producing rolled strips of dough .whichareunhform in size and which is adjustable so-that the dough strips may bemade of desired thickness Wi hihap act m an Another pbject of theinvention is to provide the machine with a novel construction of timingchute or device foriinsuring the delivery of the rolled dough stripsattheproper intervals so that the same may be looped with a series ofoperating steps so as to speed up the operationof the completemachineiandto provide ample intervals oftime between the looping of,-the strips to prevent the breaking or tearing ,of the strips such aswould occur were the operation single and aQ Q .B IB I Further objectsof the invention are to improve certain detailed portions "of themachine for carrying outthe general objects of rapidity in themanufacture of the pretzels without injury to the dough strips at anystep in the formation thereof.

Withthe foregoing and other objects in view, the inver;1 tiO,n,Wi1l 7bemore ifully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointedout in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to- 1 i ke pr correspondingparts throughout the severalviews.

Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in section andpartly broken awayof a pretzel machine embodying the features of the present invention.

Figure} is a verticaltransverse section-taken through-thesameisubstantially onthe, line 2-2 of-Figure 1. Figure 3 is a transversesection taken through the upper portion of the mac hine substantially onthe line ;3;3 of Figure 2 and showing the timing devioes and the feedchute for the rolled d u h-str ps- Figure 4 is a like view taken on theline r574 9 Figur shdshswih the lo in h sshsh sm 5?? al o hsih s hsiq il h e. .hrsm rihs th pr t e is hs ss vs sr i u 5 i a ris ai hhl h sirssmshtsr rs st sh Vi w take i ss is' Ji 9? .i qhmih I m chan sm- 'shrs1,6 i s d tsi l hlasssdssp plan vie -2 the ihs h itsh s r h sshah heshsrshh the disshsr h ls o ih iha h s- 'Iffi'iuf 14 :i {a rsi tsi .sh ard. sect o v ew ken h ou th w sts P lan view of thesame.

1 w ,1 is s ,dstsi .P rs sti xvi fo th {o d ed .diss eihs pelle thdotted'lines s win h l sldi PQ i iQ i ur t'li i deta dia amm ti howin ofth rfss i gs i ssir pinto; 9 fi hn tsw sted, t-he dotted lines showingthe succes sive iDQsitiQns Q he; h ahsll tsl hsisiss zms s im olh nposition.

Figure 1,3fi$;%91l ia ramma ic vi wlof the 9 r r hg d i ha in a st p;.1.0ope.d land w stshwih h qhah read .tqb o de vl Ti mf .9,i a s d :slsst o ls h zs m h wiih -rih :hhflhhflhshttm n elith 1Qwer por i of thelooped strip to fold the same, and

iEi h e 0 i hlfha m h a v s -ront levation of the same showingthe,pallet raised and with the twiste stri i ,0 s ed posit on t .oompl tP FQ' ZQJQ XXRQQQ .o c. .QWa h ldmw n aj the pre zelma- Qh h ma ih i rvided wit aframe .130 o any s l eegnstruetion;to adapt it for.;carryingthe rati n part requ e in th formation of the p tz leh eth fmmeisipreferably. portabl as y F r 7 s sfra m ntar r s ishs -mw .tels

e -yiswtsksh-sh th the provision of wheels or rollers 3| of any suitableconstruction and number. The frame 39 is preferably vertically disposedso that the consecutive operations of the machine are carried on as thedough strip moves downwardly through the frame and thus the operationsare assisted by gravity.

At the top of the frame 39 is disposed a hopper 32 adapted to receivedough to be made into pretzels, and the hopper 32 opens at its lower endinto a feed cylinder 33 in which is disposed a suitable feed screw 34mounted on the shaft 35 extending lengthwise in the cylinder 33 andwhich is driven through gears 36 from any suitable source of power forturning the feed screw 34 at the desired rate of speed to advance thedough in the desired proportion from the lower end of the cylinder 33.The lower end of the cylinder 33 is partially closed by a head 31 havingan aperture 38 suitably shaped and proportioned to admit the ejection ofa bog or lump of dough of the desired size and proportion, and theselumps of dough are cut off in desired lengths by a cutter 39 mounted onthe shaft 35 and rotatable with the conveyor 34 for severing the ejecteddough at each revolution of the shaft. Of course the cutting off of thedough may be accomplished otherwise than as shown so as to provide aquantity of dough which is sufiicient for the purpose.

Also mountedin the upper part of the frame 30 is a strip rollingmechanism which comprises a concave 40 having its forward endterminating adjacent the cylinder 33 and provided with a stripping plate4| adapted to receive thereover the length of dough as it is ejected andcut off from the front end of the cylinder 33.

The concave 49 may be constructed, as shown in detail in Figures 11, 12and 13, of a plurality of longitudinal tubes secured in spaced apartrelation by curved bands 42 to which the tubes may be riveted so asto'hold the tubes into substantially flat form. The concave 40 mayextend substantially three-fourths of the circumferential length of thestrip rolling mechanism and the inner surface of the concave ispreferably covered by a layer of fabric 43. This fabric sheet or strip43 is spread over a plurality of rods 44 which form the supporting framefor the concave, and the hollow tubes 40', which are preferablyrectangular in cross section, are forced radially inward between therods 44 and against the fabric sheet 43 to loop the sheet inwardly aboutthe rods and thusprovide a suitable inner surface for the concave. Thisouter removable portion of the concave, comprising the tubes 40 and thebands 42, are assembled in any desired numbers so that the tubestructure may be in sections to facilitate its easy removal andreplacement and, as shown in Figure 11, clips 45 may be employed for thedifferent sections to hold the same to the end portions of the concave.The stripping plate 4| is at the forward end of the concave, while atthe rear end of the concave is disposed a pivoted delivery apron 46which is adapted to receive thereover the rolled strip for delivery intothe timing chute of the machine.

Within the concave 40 is disposed a stationary cylinder 41 havingopposite end head discs provided with hub portions 48 fixed upon ahollow shaft 49 which extends entirely through the cylinder and which isfixed in suitable manner to the opposite sides of the frame 30. At theopposite ends of the concave are disposed annular rims 50 which may bemade in any number of sections and which have in radial alinement lugs5| at their outer and inner edges through which en gage radiallydisposed rods 52 having threaded nuts thereon for engaging the lugs 5|to hold the rims 50 at desired radial distances from the axis of thecylinder and to thus regulate the size of the space between the fixedcylinder 41 and the outer concave 4|].

The inner ends of the rods 52 are adjustably secured to hub rings 53which are suitably mounted, by ball bearings or the like, on the outerend portions of the hollow shaft 49. Any suitable means may be providedfor turning the concave 49 and in Figure 12 a sprocket wheel 54 ismounted on one of the hub rings 53 and is adapted to be turned by asprocket chain 56 or the like which is part of the mechanism and whichmay be connected to the gearing 36 for properly timing the feed screw 34with the rotation of the concave 40.

The radial rods 52 are preferably provided with ball bearing rollers 51mounted in clips 58 attached to the inner lugs 5| for holding therollers 51 in proper position upon the rods 52 and against the adjacentend discs or heads 41 of the stationary cylinder. Annular bands or rings59 are mounted upon the radial rods 52 between the lugs 5| so as tointerbrace the rods and distribute the strain imposed thereon uniformlythroughout the structure of the concave. The inner threaded ends of therods 52 are preferably reduced in diameter so that the rods may bequickly and easily assembled throughout the openings in the lugs 5|,bands 59 and the like and so that the threaded ends of the rods may bequickly turned into engagement with the hub rings 53. This facilitatesassemblage and separation of the parts. The stationary cylinder or drum41 is provided with a plurality of spaced longitudinal strips 60 whichare suitably fastened to the end or head discs of the drum and which maybe sprung outwardly by wedges 6| carried upon the inner sides of thestrips 60 intermediate their ends and which have inwardly fixed camsurfaces receiving thereagainst the correspondingly shaped peripheraledge of a disc 62. The disc 62 is adapted for longitudinal axialmovement in the drum and is provided with a hub 63 which is slidable onthe fixed hollow shaft 49 and which is provided with a key or set screw64 which projects through a longitudinal slot 65 in one side of thehollow shaft 49 and engages with a shifting rod 66 which extends throughthe hollow shaft 49 and beyond one end thereof. The outer end of the rod66 is threaded at 61 to receive a hand wheel 68 adapted to turn on thethreaded portion 61 and which bears against the hollow shaft 49 so as toshift the rod 66 longitudinally, shift the disc 62 and more or lessproject the wedges 6| radially outward to expand the cylinder throughthe slats 60. This stationary cylinder 41 is also provided with asurface layer of fabric 69. The sheet of fabric 69 is placed over theslats 60 and the ends of the fabric are drawn taut about the oppositeends of the peripheral surface of the cylinder, as shown in Figure 13,and held taut by flexible connectors 10 or the like which may engage theshaft 49 as shown.

The inner cylinder 41 remains stationary while the outer concave makes acomplete revolution from the position shown in Figure 2 back into suchposition, and during such time the portion of dough delivered from thecylinder 33 has been rolled between the two layers of fabric and thecylinders have been so adjusted as to produce a rolled dough strip ofthe desired thickness and length.

As the free or rear end 'ofthe concave 40 passes beneath the bottom ofthe stationary cylinder '41 the apron 46 swings downwardly andwipesacross the upper end .of a delivery chute II but also formsa'timing chute so that the formed dough'strip may roll downwardly overthe apron .45 into the chute II. Eachtime the wiping plate 41 reachesthe position shown in Figure 2, a new quantity of dough has been ejectedfrom the cylinder 3.3 and out off from the main supply so that the plate4'] may pick up the new lump or gob of dough and start the rollingoperation. For the purpose of preventing the dough being rolled fromsticking to the cylinder, a flour bin 12 may be suspended within thestationary cylinder 41 and provided with a suitably constructeddistributing wheel 13;.disposed in the path of the concave 40 so as toroll against the inner side thereof and distribute suflicient flour fromthe bin 12 to the inner surface of the concave.

The chute II is relatively flat and broad, as shown in Figure 1, andextends substantially the full length .of theccnoave-40 so that therolled dough strip may fall upon the chute II in straight line position.'The'dough strip rolls downwardly over the chute H and againsta gate orshutter 14 against which the dough strip 'is'straightened.

The dough strip is held against this gate or shutter I4 by its ownweight and the latter remains closed until the operation of the arm I5swings the gate intoopen position by engaging a finger 16 projectinginwardly from the gate 14. The gate is pivotally mounted upon the sidesof the'chute 'II and when the finger I6 is lifted the gate 14 is swunginto open position to release the strip of dough so that the latter maycontinue downwardly over the upper surface of the chute II and intocontact with the second gate T1 disposed near the lower. end of thechute. The latter gate I! is relatively quick acting as it is opened bya yieldable latch 18 carried upon a bar 1:9:which extends downwardlyfrom the arm 15. The latch 18 islifted with the arm 15 and moves thegate 11 into open position for-releasing the lower rolled strip of doughand as soon as the latch 19 passes the finger of the gate 11 the latteris permitted to snap closed. The return of the arm '15 and the latch 18snaps the latter over the finger of the gate and into position for asubsequent opening movement. The arm 15 is supported on a pivot .80carried by a bracket 8| mounted on a frame 30 and a weight 82 isadiustably disposed upon the 'outer portlon'of the arm 15 so as tonormally urge the inner end of the arm upwardly.

The outer end of the arm 15 isconnected by a link 83 to the outer end ofthe lever 84 which extends inwardly and downwardly toward the lower endof the chute. The lever 84 is pivoted at 05 intermediate its ends uponthe bracket 8| and a roller 86 is mountedby .a small bracket upon theouter end portion of the lever 84and rests upon the upper surface of arearwardly. inclined wedge 81 which is shiftable beneath the roller 86to raise and lower the rear end of the lever 84 and the arm 15 connectedthereto.

The link I9 carries at its lower end a gate plate 88 which extendsacross the lower end of the feed chute -'II approximately one-fourth thewidth .of "the latter and disposed at the middle portion of the machineand adapted for vertical movement with the link 19 to release theintermediate portions of the dough strips one at a time, and the plate08 is fianged'at its lower end to provide .a pusher elementfor theforcing the intermediate portionof the dough strip =down-' wardly overan inclined plate 89 mounted-on the lower end of the lever 84. The chuteH is providedat its lower end with a pair of inwardly and downwardlyconvergingguides :90 over which the free ends of the dough stripareadapted to gradually fall to prevent the too rapid swinging of theends .of the doughstrip downwardly and to direct the same as shown inFigure 17 to impart a U-shape to the dough strip.

As shown in Figure 3, a cross portion of the frame .30 is provided witha pair of inwardly extending supporting rods or pins 91 on the innerends of which are-:pivotally mounted a pair of wings 92' which convergefor-wardly, as shown in Figure 1, and are adapted to receivethereagainst the free end portions of the dough strip. These wings 92are pivotally supported by the rods 9| and are also pivotally connectedat their forward ends to upwardly extending rods 93 which are connectedat their upper ends to a cross bar 94 carried'by the lever 84 so that asthe latter swings upwardly at its forward end the rods 93 are raised andthe swings 92aare swung toward each other to move the free ends of thedough strip closer together. Immediately prior to the operation of thewings 92 the middle portion of the dough strip slides down the plate 89and drops upon a conveyor 95 which operates horizontally and is adaptedto carry the dough strip forwardly over a loop forming head 95 which isdisposed immediately beneath the outer end of the-conveyor 95. A pusherplate '91 is disposed horizontally and projectsat one end over the innerportion of the conveyor 95 and is connected to the conveyor by a pin 98or the like, the forward end of theplate 91 having an upturned shoulder99 adapted to engage the, middle portion of the doughstrip so as tomovegthe same with the conveyorv forwardly with the plate 91. 7

The wedge 8-1 is mounted on the rear end portion of the plate 91 so asto coordinate the movement of the plate 91 with the levers 84 and 1.5.The rear end of the plate 91 has downturned flanges I00 which carry atransverse rod IOI engagingin the slot of an actuating lever 102 'whichextends downwardly from the plate 91.

The flanges I00 also carry rollers 13' or the like which engage a fixedplate I04 carried by the frame 30., the plate I04 also serving as-aguide to maintain the plate 91 in-a horizontal position. The plate I04is also flanged to carry a pair of shafts I05 equipped with rollers forsupporting the conveyor 95. The lever I02 is reciprocating so as toimpart a similar movement to the conveyor or'belt 95 and to thus advancethe'dough strips one at a time over the conveyor and to the head '96.The loop forming head- 96 is given a horizontal cross sectional shapesimilar to that of the formation of the loop in the pretzel so that theintermediate portion of the dough strip as it falls over the forward endof the conveyor 95 will engage the head 96 and will be formed into thedesired shape thereby, the head 96 tapering upwardly so as to graduallyreceive the loop of the dough strip and shape the same. The head 96 hasa shank I06 secured along the under side of the fixed plate I04 and theshank I06 is preferably hollow with a bottom wall I01 to form a supportand guide for an upwardly extending 100p I08 of a lever I09 adapted toreceiprocate through the shank I06. v .s

The bottom wall I0! is provided at its forward edge witha downturnedstop flange H 0 while theloop l 08 is of greater length than the wallI01 and has at its forward end a supporting plate I II adapted toproject beyond the lower edge of the head 96 to support the loopedportion of the dough strip. The head 96 is provided with a pair oflaterally disposed lugs II2 adapted to receive the side portions of theloop of dough and which holds the side portions from forward movementwhile the loop of the dough is rounded and shaped to the head 96. Theselugs II2 hold the dough strip in place until the lever I09 with itsplate I II are retracted and moved backwardly, the offset rear end II3of the plate III engaging the sides of the dough strip and disengagingthem from the lugs II2. Of course the conveyor 95 and the head 96 withits adjacent parts may be interchanged with similar parts of differentsizes to adapt the machine to pretzels of different sizes.

Immediately after the side wings 92 are swung up toward each other tomove the free end portions of the dough strip closer together, a twisterrises into engagement with the extremities of the dough strip andeffects the twisting of the size of the dough strip above itsextremities.

This twister, shown to advantage in Figures 1, 2, 14 and 15, comprises apair of plates II4 which are pivotally connected together at the centralaxis of the machine at H5 and to the upper end of a plunger I I6 whichis headed at its lower end to support a spring II'I normally urging theplunger downwardly, the spring I I! being housed in the cylinder I I8mounted on the upper end of a tubular shaft section I I9 which ismounted on the upper end of the tubular shaft I20 and the shaft sectionII9 carries a cross piece I2I adapted to turn with the shaft and shaftsection as a unit for carrying out the twisting operation. A push rodI22 is mounted in the shaft I20 and bears at its upper end against thehead of the plunger I I6 so as at times to lift the plunger with theplates II4, the latter swinging inwardly at their lower ends toward eachother. The lower ends of the plates II 4 are pivotally connected at I23to the upper ends of angle levers I24 which latter are pivoted at I25 tothe outer ends of the cross piece I2I. The angle levers I24 carry outgripping plates I26 which extend above the pivots I23 so that the platesII 4 and I26 provide gripping or engaging surfaces adapted to engage thefree extremities of the dough strip when the twister is raised and tohold the ends during the turning of the twister with its shaft I20.

The normal forward ends of the plates II4 are curved upwardly and areflared outwardly from their inner edges as shown in Figures 2 and 15 tomaintain the extremities of the twisted strips in divergent position.The cross piece I2I may be adjusted vertically on the shaft section H9and held in adjusted position by a thumb screw IT! or the like, as shownin Figures 2 and 15. This accommodates longer or shorter lengths ofdough being operatedupon. The shaft section H9 is provided with a locknut I28 which bears against the lower end of the cylinder II8, whichlatter is also threaded upon the shaft section II9 so as to lock thecylinder in vertical adjusted position on the shaft section. The hollowshaft I20 extends downwardly in the frame 30 and passes through asuitable bearing I29 mounted on the frame and is provided with a bevelpinion I30 at its lower end which at times meshes with a toothed segmentI3I which extends approximately upon the surface of a bevel gear wheelI32 so that the shaft I20 is given one complete turn at each revolutionof the bevel gear wheel I32 and also has a substantial dwell or periodof rest during the turning of the bevel gear wheel.

The push rod I22 extends below the pinion I30 and has a head I33 on itslower end adapted to be raised by a pin I34 which is provided on thelevel gear wheel I32 at a. point approximately opposite the toothedportion I 3| the pin I34 adapted to lift the push rod I22 and raise thetwister as above described. The gear wheel I32 is mounted on a shaft I35which is disposed in the frame and at one side carries a disc I36 withan eccentric pin I31 at one side which operates in a cam opening I38 ofa vibratory or reciprocating plate I39. The opening I38 is disposed in ageneral vertical direction and the pin I3! is adapted to shift the plateback and forth during the rotation of the disc I36. The upper end of theplate I 39 is longitudinally slotted at I40 to receive guide rollers I Mwhich are carried upon a bracket I42 mounted on the frame. The plate I39has an arm I43 which projects rearwardly from the plate, as shown toadvantage in Figures 2 and 10, and the rear end of the arm I43 isconnected by a pin and slot connection I44 with the lower end of thelever I02 so as to reciprocate the upper end thereof. The lever I 02 ispivotally mounted at I45 upon the frame and near the lower end of thelever. The plate I39 thus serves to properly time the operation of theconveyor and the twister.

Means is provided for folding the pretzels into finished positionimmediately after the twisting operation, and for also removing thepretzels when folded to convey the same to an oven. This means comprisesa vertical shaft I46 mounted in the hollow housing I41 on the frame andat its lower end is connected by bevel gears I48 to the shaft I35. Theupper end of the shaft I46 is provided with a supporting head I49disposed above the hollow housing I41, and the shaft I46 may beadjustable so as to adapt the same to various heights. The shaft I46carries on its upper end a bevel gear I50 which, as shown in Figures 6,7 and 8 provided with two spaced apart toothed portions I5I and I52adapted to alternately engage a bevel pinion I53 disposed on ahorizontal shaft I54. The shaft I54 extends through the upper portion ofthe vertical shaft I46 and normally extends inwardly of the machine andis adapted to swing about the shaft I46 as an axis at times so as totransfer folded pretzels. As soon as the twisting device is lowered, thearm or shaft I54 is swung by the shaft I46 into position beneath theforming or looping mechanism, as shown in Figure 2.

At this time the shaft I54 is held by a ratchet wheel I55 carried by theshaft and which is locked from backward movement by a pawl or dog I56sliding vertically in a block I51 fitted about the upper end of theshaft I46. At this time a counterweight I58 fixed to the shaft I54, isdisposed horizontally and urges the ratchet wheel 55 against its pawlI56. The outer or long end of the shaft I54 provides an arm on which isdisposed a pallet plate I59 and this plate extends downwardly when thecounterweight I58 is horizontally disposed. As shown in Figure 16, thepallet plate I59 is provided with a downwardly flaring slot I50 at itslower end adapted to slide over the upper ends of the plates I I4 of thetwister and the edge portions of the plate I59 at the slot I60 may bebent out to provide supporting flanges or shoulders I6I for engaging thefree ends of the twisted dough strip to hold the ends in divergentrelation. The lower end of the plate 59 is also provided with a.laterally extending lug I 62. for the purpose which will presentlyappear. The inner end of the pallet plate H9 is provided with a curvedlip I63 adapted. to engage the downturned flange I III- of the formorhead shank to assist in swinging the pallet upwardly into horizontalposition when the shaft F54 is advanced.

The beveled gear wheel I56 is stationary on the upper end of the housinghead M9 and the pinion I53 is adapted to traverse the surface of thegear wheel. I59. When the pinion. I53 is disengaged from the toothportion; I52 of the gear the counterweight I58 is free: to operate theshaft 54 to raise the pallet I59 into horizontal position as shown indotted lines in Figure 16. This upward movement of the pallet plateswings the twisted and lower free end. of the pretzel upward-- lyagainstthe plate III while the latter is being retracted so that as soon as thefolding operation is completed the pretzel is released and supported onthe pallet I59- The counterweight t58 when freed to swing downwardly, islimited in its lowered position by a pin #64 onthecounterweight andwhich. engages the lower part of the housing I. It will be noted fromFigure 1 that the driving gear I48 on the shaft t has teeth which extendbut half way around so that the other gear I48 remains at rest when theshaft or arm #54 projects inwardly beneath the former. As the gears I48intermesh the arm I54 is swung forwardly about the shaft I46 as an axisand the pallet I 59, through itslip I63 is swung to horizontal positionto first fold the looped and twisted dough strip over upon itself intothe. form of a pretzel. and subsequently the arm I54 is continued in itsswinging. motion until it reaches the outer side of the machine.

During this movement the folded pretzel is carried on: the pallet I59-and the latter is maintained horizontal position by means of the ratchetI55 and the dog L56. As the outer end of the arm. I54 reaches the outerside of the machine the pinion I53 comes into contact with the oppositetooth section I5I of the stationary gear I56 with the result that theshaft I54 is. rotated. so as to ,turn the pallet I59 upwardly and overto deliver the pretzel to a desired point, such as upon an endless beltor conveyor 165. The endless conveyor I65 is horizontally disposed atthe side of the machine and extends outwardly to a suitable oven and maydeliver the. pretzels in desired manner to an oven, and any suitabledevices may be employed in conjunction. with the conveyor I65 foreffecting, this result. Abar I66 is disposed lengthwise over the inneredge portion of the con-- veyor I65 and is supported. upon brackets I61or the like from the frame 30. This bar I66 is positioned to receive thelaterally extending lug I162 of the pallet I59- so as to hold the palletfrom contact with the conveyor- As soonas the pretzel is delivered uponthe conveyor the pinion I53 passes beyond the toothed portion I 5I ofthe stationary gear I50}. and the shaft I54 is maintained in thisposition for substantially anotherhalf turn when the pinion I53 engagesthe" gear teeth 52 and the operation is repeated.

Disposed preferably in the lower part of the frame 36- is a motor F68which is connected by worm gearing I169 to a transverse shaft I'IIlmounted in the frame and provided toward one side a clutch III whichcouples a shaft I12 to the shaft F10 and the shaft I12 carries asprocket wheel I513 over which passes achain I14 which also engages asecond sprocket [15011 the shaft- I35 to: drive the same,v the chain I14extending upwardly and passing over a third sprocket wheel I [6 on theconveyor shaft I" which drives the conveyor I65 leading to the oven. Theupper end of the chain II4- passes over a fourth sprocket I18 on a shaftI19, the latter having a sprocket wheel I86 over which the chain 56passes for driving the strip rolling mechanism. The shaft I19 isprovided with a cam I 8| which extends about three-fourths way about theshaft and upon which bears a finger t8'2 pivoted to the frame and fromwhich is pivotally suspended a bar I63 the lower end of which isprovided with a presser foot H84 disposed adjacent the outer edge of theformer 96- for pressing the upturned free ends of the folded pretzel tothe loop thereof. The bar I83 is provided with a cam projection I85adapted to slide over the face of a cam I86 fixed to the frame forimparting an inwardly swinging movement to the: bar I83 as the latter islowered when released by the cam I81.

From the above description it is apparent that a quantity of doughplacedin the hopper 32 is fed by the worm 34 through the lower end of thecylinder 33 and issevered by the cutter 39 into desiredlengths. Duringthis operation the concave 49' is continuously rotated at the desiredrate of speed so as to pick off by the plate 4-I the severed portion ofdough and todirect the same between the concave 46 and the stationarycylinder M. The turning of the concave rolls the piece of doughintoastrip of the desired size and length and after substantially a completerevolution the rolled or formed strip is deposited from the apron 46onto the chute II. 'Iheoperation of the levers l5- and- 84 through thecam block 8"! distributes the formed strips one at a time downwardly inthe chute and past the gate 88,- and over the. in.- clined plate. 89 tothe top of the conveyor 95. Through. the operation of the reciprocatinglever I02 the. strip. which by this time has assumed a substantiallyinverted U-shape. is moved for- Wardly by the conveyor while theintermediate portions of the strip are held behind the. laterallyextending lugs H2 and the forward or closed portion of the strip isswung. downwardly over the: former head. 96 andv rests upon the bottomvplate III- The twisting mechanism as above described is now raised bythe pin I34 and. brings the plates I I4 and I26 into substantiallyclosed position on the ends of the strip and holds the same in. suchposition while the shaft I20 is. 1'0- tated one complete turn to impartthe twisting motion.

The twisting mechanism is now lowered out of the way and the pallet I59is now brought into position beneath the former so as to engage thelower portion of. the looped and twisted pretzel and swing the free endsand twisted portion thereof upwardly beneath the plate III and at thistime the presser foot I84 is moved downwardly while the plate I I I isretracted. The retraction of the plate I releases the sides of thepretzel loop from the lugs H2 and the pretzel now rests wholly upon thepallet I59. As above described the pallet is carried. forwardly andaround. to the side of the machine where it is operated to turn thepallet I59 over and deposit the pretzel upon the oven feeding belt I65.

It is apparent that the belt I65 may lead into one end of the oven. ormay be equipped with suitable devicesfor removing. the pretzels from thebelt and deliver them from the side onto the oven conveyor.

As shown. to advantage in Figure 4, the belt I65 may be provided with aplurality of vanes or paddles I 81 which are pivoted at their forwardends to the belt and adapted to turn over at the end of the belt fordelivering the pretzels deposited on the vanes to an oven conveyor.

In order to maintain the twister in the proper position of rest beneaththe former so that the arms I25 and the plates I I4 will register withthe suspended ends of the dough strip as it is delivered to the former,the frame of the machine is provided with an upstanding stop arm I81which as shown in Figure 1 is adapted to engage the lower corner portionof one of the angle arms I24. As the initial operation of the twister isupward as to the arms I24, the latter escape the stop finger I81 so thatthe twister may rotate and by the time a full turn is consummated thearms I24 are released so as to drop back into normal position in thepath of the finger I81, thus holding the twister in proper alinement forsubsequent operation.

What is claimed is:-

1. In a pretzel making machine, a dough strip former, a single stripfeeding means for receiving the strip of dough from the former anddelivering the strip to the machine, suspension means for the strip forreceiving the same from said feeding means and holding the strip withthe free ends thereof in suspension, a stationary loop former adapted toreceive the intermediate portion of a strip from the suspension means, atwisting device operable on the free ends of the strip on the suspensionmeans for twisting the ends of the strip together, folding means for thetwisted end of the strip adapted to raise the same against the formedloop of the strip, and means for pressing the free ends of the strip tothe loop.

2. In a pretzel making machine including a dough rolling device formaking dough strips; a former, means for delivering a strip to theformer with the middle portions of the strip on the former and the endshanging at the sides thereof, a twisting device adapted to engage andtwist the free ends of the strip together, means for moving the loopedportion of the strip over the former to provide a loop in the strip, anda combined folder and carrier operable upon the twisted end portion ofeach strip to fold the same against the loop of the strip and tosubsequently carry the looped, twisted and folded strip from themachine.

3. In a pretzel making machine, including a dough strip former; feedingmeans arranged beneath the former for receiving a dough strip therefrom,a loop shaping device arranged beneath the feeder for receiving thestrip therefrom and adapted to support the strip from the middle portionwith the free ends in suspension, a twisting device disposed beneath theloop shaping means for engaging the free ends of the strip and twistingthe same together, and a tilting support operable beneath the shapingmeans for engaging the twisted ends of the strip to fold the sameagainst the formed loop and for subsequently discharging the strip fromthe machine.

4. In a pretzel making machine, including a dough strip roller forproducing dough strips; a former, means for individually delivering astrip to the former with the ends of the strip hanging at the sidesthereof, a combined end grasping and twisting device for engaging thefree ends of the dough strip and twisting the same together, a swingingfolder adapted to move beneath the former and engage the twisted ends ofthe strip. means for raising the folding device to close the free endsof the strip against the loops thereof, means for shifting the foldingdevice from beneath the former, and means for operating the shiftingdevice to discharge the strip therefrom.

5. In a pretzel making machine, a former, means for delivering a doughstrip to the former with the ends of the strip hanging at the sidesthereof, a loop shaping device cooperating with the former for swingingthe closed intermediate portion of the strip into horizontal position toprovide a horizontal loop, twisting means engaging the free ends of thestrip for twisting the same together, a movable pallet disposed beneaththe former, means for moving said pallet to engage the twisted ends ofthe strip and fold the same against the horizontal loop, means forcarrying the pallet from beneath the former with the looped and foldedstrip thereon, and means for turning the pallet to discharge the striptherefrom.

6. In a pretzel making machine including a dough strip producing means,a former having a loop shaped'head, means for delivering the dough stripto the former with the ends of the strip hanging at opposite sidesthereof, a pusher cooperating with the former for engaging theintermediate portion of the strip to carry the same downwardly intohorizontal position over the loop shaping device, a pallet, means formoving the pallet beneath the strip former, means for swinging thepallet upwardly against said loop shaping device to fold the striptogether, means for carrying the pallet from beneath the former with thestrip thereon, and means for turning the pallet to discharge the strip.

7. In a pretzel making machine, including a dough strip roller; a feeddevice disposed beneath said roller to receive a dough strip therefrom,a former disposed beneath said feeding device for engaging theintermediate portion of the dough strip and support the same with theends suspended at the sides of the former, said former having a loopshaping head arranged horizontally at the outer end thereof, a twistingdevice disposed beneath the former for engaging the free ends of thesuspended strip to twist said ends together, an arm pivotally mounted atone side of the machine, a pallet mounted on the outer end of the armadapted to be swung into position beneath the former, means for turningthe pallet with the arm into horizontal position for folding the twistedends of the strip upwardly against the loop shaper, means for advancingthe closed portion of the strip loop from the former to the shaper head,means for pressing the twisted ends of the strip against the loopthereof, holding means supporting the pallet in horizontal position tosupport the folded strip, means for swinging said arm to carry thepallet from beneath the former, and means for subsequently overturningthe pallet to discharge the folded strip.

8. In a pretzel making machine, a dough strip former having a horizontalloop shaped head, means for delivering a strip of dough to the formerwith the free ends of the strip suspended at opposite sides thereof,means for moving the closed portion of the strip over said shaping headto provide a loop in the strip, twisting means arranged beneath theformer to engage the free ends of the strip and twist the same together,a vertical shaft disposed at one side of the former, a radial armmounted on the shaft to turn therewith, a pallet mounted on the outerend of the arm, means for turning the shaft to swing the pallet beneathsaid former, means for swinging the pallet into horizontal positionagainst the twisted ends of the strip to fold the same against 5 theloop of the strip, means for holding said pallet in horizontal positionduring the swinging of said arm outwardly from beneath the former, andmeans cooperating with the arm and the shaft for overturning the palletto discharge the folded strip.

HARRY A. GERLAND.

